Collecting device for matchmaking



June 2, 1936. l P, w. DIETMANN 2,043,157

COLLECTING DEVICE FOR MATCHMAKING MACHINES Filed Jan. 2, 1955 2 Sheets-Sheet l June 2, 1 936. P. w. DIETMANN 2,043,157

COLLECTING DEVICE FOR MATCHMAKING MACHINES Filed Jan. 2, 1935 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented June 2, 1936 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 7 NES.

Paul Wilhelm Dietmann, Jonkoping, Sweden Application January 2, 1935, Serial No. 160 In Sweden February 8, 1934 14 Claims.

This invention relates to match-making machines of the kind in which the finished matches, instead of being collected in magazines, are collected directly in match boxes or cells the width of which is generally less than the length of the matches. It is known to provide such machines with sloping surfaces or chutes for guiding the matches discharged from the match carriers of the machine into a row of boxes or cells in which the matches are collected in horizontal position. In certain cases, however, such devices are not so suitable, nor do they'sufficiently ensure that the matches are collected in a well-ordered state in the boxes or cells.

According to the present invention, which has for its object to provide a collecting device free from the disadvantages mentioned above, the matches are to be collected in substantially vertical cells having a width which is less than the length of the matches, and for this purpose. the cells are positioned below a row of funnels for catching the matches and for guiding them down into the cells. By this arrangement, the matches are obviously caused to enter the cells in their longitudinal direction, coming to rest, in substantially vertical positions, against the bottoms of the cells with their ends in a common plane. By these funnel-shaped guides, having a closed circumference, a more efiective and straight guidance is ensured to the matches than merely by sloping surfaces or chutes, thus making it possible to discharge and satisfactorily to collect a plurality of match rows simultaneously; As, for this purpose, the minimum width of the funnels must be less than the length of the matches, it might happen that some of the matches come to rest crosswise in the funnels,

and, therefore, means are required for automatically cleaning the funnels from matches possibly sticking therein. Such devices may act pneumatically, being adapted, for instance, to direct a current of air upwards through the funnels at the times between the discharging periods, :so that the matches are carried away by said current. Preferably, however, the automatic cleaning is effected by arranging that after each ejecting period or after a number of such periods, the funnels as a whole or part of each funnel is moved to such a position that matches possibly remaining in the funnel lose their support against the walls thereof. The sides of the funnels may, for instance, be constituted by two mutually movable members, the motion of which is adapted tov alter the distance between two opposite sides 65; of the funnels. If this distance is periodically made larger than the length of the matches, a match which may have come to rest crosswise between the funnel-sides in question will obviously lose its support against these sides and drop down from the funnel.

Other subsidiary features of the invention will be clearly pointed outv in the claims appended hereto.

An embodiment of this invention is shown by way of example in the accompanying drawings, in which:--

Figure l is a cross-sectional view of the collecting device of a match-making machine.

Figure 2 is a similar cross-section showing the movable parts of the device in another position than that shown in Figure 1.

Figure 3 is an end view, partly in section along the line III-III of Figure 2, of one half of the machine, the other half being substantially similar' to that shown.

Figure 4 is a plan view of modified details of the collecting device.

In the drawings, l denotes the frame of the match-making machine and 2 are the carrier bars thereof, interconnected or not to an endless chain and adapted to carry rows of matches 3 which, when brought to the position shown in the drawings, are ready to be ejected and collected. Movable to and from the stepwise movable carrier bars 2 is a needle bar 4, extending horizontally and adapted at each stroke to eject a plurality of match rows. Fixed to the frame l is a cross beam 5 having a sloping side 6 and equidistant, wedge-shaped members 1 projecting I therefrom. Opposite the side 6 of the crossbeam 5 is a plate 8, movable towards and from the cross-beam and having a side 9, facing the side 6 and provided with wedge-shaped projections In situated opposite the spaces between the members 1. The plate 8 is carried by arms H pivotally mounted to the frame I, and it isswingable back and forth between theposition shown in Figure l in which the members I and I0 pro-. ject intothe spaces between one another, forming together with the sides 6 and -9 a row of square-shaped funnels extending parallel to the carrier bars 2, and the position shown in Figure 2, in which the members are entirely out of the spaces between one another. For the sake of clearness, the plate 8 is omitted in Figure 3, but the position of the members 10' is indicated by dotted lines. In the embodiment shown, the funnels are connected, with sloping chutes [2 carried by the cross-beam 5, the bottoms ofthe chutes being in flush with the side 6 and having their upper edges positioned adjacent the path of travel of the carrier bars 2. At their upper portions the chutes I2 are covered by a deflecting plate I3.

Fixed to the frame I are brackets I 4 carrying a turning member I 6 provided with a row of openended cells I5 for collecting the matches ejected from the carrier bars 2. Being journalled about an axis parallel to the cell-row the turning member I6 is swingable back and forth between the position shown in Figure 1, in which the open ends of the cells are directed upwards, and the delivery position shown in Figures 2 and 3. In order to effect this swinging motion, the turning member is by means of a connecting rod I'I connected to a swingably mounted lever I8 carrying a roller I9 running in a cam slot in one side of a cam slot disc 20 mounted on a continuouslyrotating driving shaft 2I. By means of a further connecting rod 22 the turning member I6 is operatively connected to the plate 8, wherebythe swinging motion above referred to imparts movements to said plate.

In the delivery position the cells I5 are positioned right above a conveyor 23 having a stepwise movement in the direction of the cell-row and carrying the match-box drawers 24 to be filled with matches. The conveyor is carried by a support 25 which, in its turn, is carried by the brackets I4. A plate 26, extending along the conveyor 23, is adapted to cover the openings of the cells when in their delivery position.

Guided in the turning member I6 and coaxially with the axis of rotation thereof is a shaft 21 which is swingable together with the turning member but axially displaceable relatively to the same. Rigidly secured to the shaft 21 is a plate 28 having a number of projecting tongues 29 corresponding to the number of cells in the turning member and each adapted to constitute that side-wall of a cell which in the delivery position is the bottom thereof. With one of its ends the shaft 2'! projects beyond one end of the turning member where it is operatively connected with one end of a swingable lever arm 30 carrying at its other end a roller 3|, engaging a cam slot in a cam slot disc 32 mounted on the driving shaft 2 I. Upon the rotation of the latter the lever arm 30 will have an oscillating motion and the shaft 21a corresponding reciprocating linear motion imparted thereto, whereby the tongues or sidewalls 29 are at predetermined intervals entirely withdrawn from below the cells.

The operation of the machine is as follows:

After each forward movement of the carrier bars 2 one of said bars is situated opposite the needle bar 4, and by the subsequent movement of the latter the matches carried by the carrier bar in question are ejected therefrom, falling by mediation of chutes I2, substantially lengthwise into the funnels formed between the cross beam 5 and the plate 8. During the ejection of the matches the turning member I6 occupies the receiving position shown in Figure 1 in which the open ends of the cells I5 coincide with the funnels and the tongues or side-walls 29 are in front of their respective cells I5. By the said funnels the matches ejected from the carrier bar are guided down into the cells I5 in which they are forced to stand upon their headed ends, the width of each cell being less than the length of the matches. The shape of the cam slot of the cam slot disc 20 is such that a slight oscillating motion is now imparted to the turning member I6 in order to level the matches contained in the cells thereof. Afterwards, the turning member is swung through 90 to the delivery position shown in Figures 2 and 3 in which the matches are horizontally supported by the withdrawable side-walls 29. During this swinging motion of the turning member IS the plate 8 is swung from the position shown in Figure 1, to that shown in Figure 2, thereby causing those matches to fall down, which may have come to rest crosswise in the funnels. Simultaneously the box conveyor 23 has occupied such a position that under each of the cells is a drawer 24. By the action of the cam slot disc 32 the shaft 2'! is moved to the left in Figure 3 whereby the side-walls 29 are withdrawn in the transverse direction of the matches resting thereupon, the matches being, consequently, caused to descend into the drawers situated below the cells. After the collecting cells I5 have thus delivered their matches to the drawers they resume their receiving position and the plate 8 is swung back to contact with the cross beam 5. Simultaneously, the shaft 21 is retracted to its position shown in Figure 3 and the box conveyor 23 is advanced a suitable distance, whereupon the operations described are repeated.

In the embodiment above described, which is applicable also machines in which the matches to be ejected are not carried by vertically movable carrier bars, the movable one of the funnel members is operatively connected to the turning member in such a manner that it is disconnected from the stationary one during the rotation of the turning member from the receiving position to the delivery position. A modified device for operating the movable funnel member is shown in Figure 4 which device may be used if the collecting cells are not mounted in a turning member or if, for some reason, the movable funnel member is to be disconnected from the stationary one already before the turning member starts its movement to the delivery position. As in the embodiment above described the movable member 40 may be swingable about an axis extending parallel to the funnel row. According to Figure 4, however, it is slidably mounted on lateral guides M and is forced against the stationary member 43 by means of a spring 42. Carried by the movable funnel member 40 is a roller 44 engaging, by the action of spring 42, a rotatable cam disc 45, the shape of said disc being such that upon the rotation thereof the movable member 46 is alternately slid to and from the stationary member 43. In the manner above described, wedge-shaped projections 46 and 41, respectively, are provided on the stationary and the movable funnel members, so that two adjacent sides of each funnel are constituted by each of said members.

For effecting the cleaning of the funnels, the

members 40 and 43 need not necessarily be movable .to and from one another. They may also be held in perpetual contact, provided that the member 40 is reciprocating in the direction of the row of funnels. By this reciprocating motion the distance between the walls or projections 46 and 41 is periodically enlarged for each series of alternate funnels and simultaneously the other opposite sides of the funnels are mutually displaced so that matches possibly remaining in the funnels are caused to descend.

What I claim is:--

1. In a match-making machine having travelling match splint carrier bars to support rows of splints in spaced relation to each other and an ejecting mechanism for discharging the finished matchesv from. said carrier: bars, the combination of arow' of substantially vertical cells having a widthless than the length of the: matches;v and a row of funnels positioned above. said cells for catching the matches discharged from said carrier bars and for guiding them down into said cells, a part at least of each funnel being periodically movable to such a position that matches sticking in the funnels lose their support.

2. In a match-making. machine having travelling match splint carrier bars to support. rows of splints in spaced relation to each other and an ejecting mechanism for discharging the finished matches from said carrier bars, the. combination of a row of substantially vertical cells having a width less than the length of the matches; two mutually movable members positioned above said cells and adapted to form a row of funnels for catching the matches discharged from said carrier bars and for guiding them down into said cells, the mutual motion of said members being adapted to alter the distance between two opposite sides of said funnels.

3. The combination set forth in claim 2, and wherein said funnels are square-shaped, two adjacent sides of each funnel being formed by each of said mutually movable members.

4. In a match-making machine having travelling match splint carrier bars to support rows of splints in spaced relation to each other and an ejecting mechanism for discharging the finished matches from said carrier bars, the combination of a row of substantially vertical cells having a width less than the length of the matches; two mutually movable members positioned above said cells and having opposite side surfaces extending parallel to the row of cells and each having projecting walls adapted to contact with the side surface of the opposite member between the projecting walls thereof so as to form a row of funnels for catching the matches discharged from said carrier bars and for guiding them down into said cells.

5. The combination set forth in claim 2, and wherein one of said members is stationary and the other member is movable to and from the stationary one.

6. In a match-making machine having travelling match splint carrier bars to support rows of splints in spaced relation to each other and an ejecting mechanism for discharging the finished matches from said carrier bars, the combination of a turning member; a row of cells mounted in said turning member each having a width less than the length of the matches; and a row of funnels positioned above said turning member for catching the matches discharged from said carrier bars and for guiding them down into said cells, said turning member being swingable about an axis parallel to the cell row and after receiving the matches in the cells and after turning to a second, working position, to deliver the matches.

7. In a match-making machine having travelling match splint carrier bars to support rows of splints in spaced relation to each other and an ejecting mechanism for discharging the finished matches from said carrier bars, the combination of a stationary member and a movable one, forming together a row of guide-funnels fo catching the matches discharged from said carrier bars; and a turning member positioned below said funnel members and having a row of cells for receiving the matches from said funnels; said turning member being swingable between a ceiving the matches from said funnels;

match receiving position anda delivery position, and said movable funnel member being operatively connected-with said turning member so as .to be removed from the stationary funnel member at each turning of the turning member from the receiving position to the delivery position.

8. Ina match-making machine having travelling. match splint carrier bars to support rows of splints in spaced relation to each other and an ejecting mechanism for discharging the finished matches from said carrier bars, the combination of a stationary member and a movable one, forming together a row of guide-funnels for catching the matches discharged from said carrier bars, and a turning member positioned below said funnel members and having a row of cells for resaid turning member being swingable between a match receiving position and a delivery position, and said movable funnel member being retractable from the stationary member before the removal of the turning member from its receiving position.

9. In a match-making machine having travelling match splint carrier bars to support rows of splints in spaced relation to each other and an ejecting mechanism for discharging the finished matches from said carrier bars, the combination of a row of cells having a width less than the length of the matches; and two mutually movable members positioned above said cells and adapted to form a row of funnels for catching the matches discharged from said carrier bars and for guiding them down into said cells, one of said funnel members being swingable about an axis parallel to the funnel row.

10. In the combination set forth in claim 6, the provision of a means for oscillating the cells after receipt of the matches for the purpose of levelling the matches in the cells.

11. The combination set forth in claim 6, and wherein said turning member is swingable back and forth between the receiving position and the delivery position, in which latter position the longitudinal direction of the cells is substantially horizontal, a part at least of the one of the side walls of the cells by which the matches are supported in the delivery position, being withdrawable in the transverse direction of the matches for the purpose of discharging the same.

12. In a match-making machine having travelling match splint carrier bars to support rows of splints in spaced relation to each other and an ejecting mechanism for discharging the finished matches from said carrier bars, the combination of a turning member; a row of cells mounted in said turning member each having a width less than the length of the matches; a row of funnels positioned above said turning member for catching the matches discharged from said carrier bars and for guiding them down into said cells; and a movable conveyer for boxes to be filled with the matches, said conveyer having a stepwise motion in the longitudinal direction of the cell row, and said turning member being swingable back and forth between a match receiving position and a delivery position, in which latter position said cells are situated close above said conveyer.

13. In a match-making machine having travelling match splint carrier bars to support rows of splints in spaced relation to each other, and an ejecting mechanism for discharging the finished matches from said carrier bars, the combination of a, turning member, a row of cells mounted on said turning member each having a width less than the length of the matches, a row of funnels positioned above said turning member for catching the matches discharged from said carrier bars and for guiding them down into said cells, and means for automatically cleaning said funnels from matches possibly sticking therein, said turning member being swingable about an axis parallel to the cell row and adapted after receiving the matches in the cells and after turning to a second working position to deliver the 7 matches.

14. In a match-making machine having travelling match splint carrier bars to support rows of splints in spaced relation to each other and an ejecting mechanism for discharging the finished matches from said carrier bars, the combination of a single row of cells for receiving the matches periodically discharged from the carrier bars, said cells having a, width less than the length of the matches, and a turning member mounting said cell row, said turning member being swingable between a match receiving position and a delivery position, in which latter position the longitudinal direction of the cells is substantially horizontal, and a part at least of the one of the side walls of the cells by which the matches are supported in the delivery position, being withdrawable in the transverse direction of the matches for the purpose of discharging the same.

PAUL WILHELM DIE'I'MANN. 

